CHRIS Hargreaves, Northampton's long-haired midfield player, thought he had won the game after he drilled a low half volley to the far corner mid-waythrough the second-half.

He had not counted on Boaz Myhill's athleticism, the on-loan 20 -year-old pulling off a stunning save to his left to thwart the bullet.

Hargreaves said: "It was an awesome save, the lad must be thrilled, we're not."

David Moss concurred: "It was as good a save as you will see at any level." Macc also forced the Cobblers' keeper to pull off a fine stop, in the 80th minute, Steve Macauley thumping a header into the ground, the ball bouncing goal bound only for Lee Harper to arch his back and tip the ballover the bar.

Otherwise Macc were content to sit back with a five man back line, thumping long balls past their two man midfield for their three leg weary strikers to chase down all afternoon. Not unsurprisingly their chances amounted to a Colin Little shot on 23 minutes, easily saved by Harper, and a Tommy Widdrington drive on 67minutes, that was cleared off the six yard line by Paul Reid.

Moss admitted: "The front three didn't have very good service, but after a few games without a win it was more important to get a clean sheet. I know we'll be better going forward on other days, that's not been my worry, it's the defence which has been the problem."